One-man police force trying to keep Lebanon safe

(Editor's Note: Due to a computer malfunction, an incomplete
version of this article appeared in last week's issue. It is now
being reprinted in its entirety.)

LEBANON Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. Offically as of July 1,
Lebanon Borough Police Chief Harold Suto is a one-ma n band. In a
budget cut, money-saving measure, the Lebanon Borough Town Council
vote d to cut the police department to just a single officer, and
that is the chief. What once was a four- man, full-time force is
now just Suto.

It is a big job in a small town.

The final two town officers, Pat Gooley and Joe Wargo have found
jobs in other departments, with Gooley working with Readington
Township now, and Wargo with the Mount Arlington Police Department.
Both had moved on before the Sunday, July 1, deadline that was set
by the Council.

It is a lonely police headquarters on Main Street, but Suto
keeps plugging, trying to keep up with the mounds of paper work
that he must do, despite the size of his department, and also the
responsibility of doing the job of being a police officer for the
people of the town.

'Break-Ins Have Increased'

"I have been real busy," Suto smiles, in a bit of an
understatement. "Criminal activity doesn't stop, and it has been
real active of late. Those guys read the papers too, and realize
that I am doing this alone now. They take advantage of the
situation, and break-ins have increased. Word gets out, and things
happen.

"I am trying to keep up, do the best job that I possibly can and
still try to give a police presence in the town," said Suto. "I
come in on my own time to do work, and try to make a difference
because I really care about the safety of this town and its
residents. I am trying to be a team player, and realize that the
council was trying to save the town taxpayers money. It is not the
best situation for me, but I made a commitment to this town, and I
vow to keep it by doing my best always."

He said it is a tenuous situation for him, not knowing if his
job will someday be cut as well, and has gotten mixed messages from
the council. He said that he hopes to make a difference, and hopes
that the council will want to keep the small town police presence.
Yet, he does not know what the future holds for him.

"Sure, it has been frustrating," Suto said. "It is a lot of work
for one man, and my goal now is to try and get one or two part-time
officers to help fill the void, but that is something that I know I
am going to have to fight for. I was going to present it to the
council at the last meeting (June), but they did not have a quorum,
and so this month (July 18 meeting) we will see what happens. I am
still going to do my job."

Suto is now not only the chief, but a patrolman as well, and has
the responsibility of doing all the investigative work on crimes in
the area, as well as patrol , keep up with the files and reports,
and do the things he thinks should be "pro-active" in terms of law
enforcement.

He still held his "Summer Junior Police Academy" with just two
youngsters, Jon Sellner of Whitehouse Station and William Soriano
of Ringoes.

He worked with them, showed them the life of an officer, and
said it was a good experience for him and for the two young
men.

He still runs the "DARE Program" at the Lebanon Borough School,
in to help in the fight against drug abuse.

'That Crime Scene Was a Mess'

Over the course of the last month, there have been break-ins and
burglaries at businesses along Route 22, where lap-top computers
were stolen, and one break-in at a hair salon where just six
bottles of shampoo were taken.

"That crime scene was a mess," said Suto. "Whoever broke in
smashed in a glass door, and there was blood all over the place.
The perpetrator obviously cut themselves pretty good when they
broke in, and the reward was some shampoo. But, it still takes as
much time investigating that as the lap-top theft. It is
time-consuming, and then there is court time that I have to spend
if I make an arrest. I am both a chief and a patrol officer in that
regard, as well as an investigator."

He said that eight hours is not enough time in a day to
accomplish all that he needs to accomplish, and is really in need
of some part-time help.

On the Fourth of July, the town of Lebanon was filled with its
usual 2,000 to 3,000 more people with the annual "Fourth Parade,"
and Suto was in his glory wit h men at his disposal.

The town Fourth of July Committee hired two officers for the
day, former Lebanon officer Greg Shallop, now with the Somerset
County Sheriff's Department, and Kevin Campbell, who is a full-time
office with Readington Township, to work the day.

Suto also had volunteers from the Department of Corrections
Motorcycle Brigade help out at no cost to the town, as well as the
older members of the Flemington Police Explorer's Post to ride
bikes as a police presence at no cost to the town as
well.

On the Fourth of July, he came in at 5 a.m., after staying late
to set up the barricades, and then had to clean debris from the
streets after the rain storm of the night before. He worked 11
hours, and then came back later that night to make sure the
porta-potties rented for the park were not tipped over, and they
were not.

"It was a great day for the town, an exceptional day, and
everything went very well," Suto said. "It was nice to have people
helping. We had two alarm activations that had to be checked out, a
lost dog, a missing child that was quickly reunited with their
parents otherwise it was a great and safe day for everyone.'
'

Suto's wife also came in, again at no cost to the town, to man
the police station during the parade and act as police
matron.

"My job now is to provide the best police protection that I can,
patrol, do my job," Suto said. "I know that if there is an
emergency that I have the State Police, and the local forces, like
Clinton Township, Readington Township and Tewksbury Township that
will come to my assistance. They are all good people, great
officers and departments. I just hope that I never need them, but
it is nice to know they are there just in case."

Help Needed

The town is growing, but the police force has dwindled. If the
911-home Windy Acres development targeted for the Lebanon border in
Clinton Township along Route 22 gets built, it is going to be even
crazier, with traffic flow alone a nightmare waiting to
happen.

There is a new Marriott Hotel being built within the town limits
too, and that is another concern.

"I don't think the people of the town really understand all the
ramifications of the job, and what I do each day," Suto said. "I
know that some people in this town were not happy with the police
for whatever reason, but I can assure you that we always did our
jobs, and that is something that I will continue to do."

He said that he does not know what the future of Lebanon Borough
is, and hopes that they don't give up home rule and merge with
another department.

"I hear all the concerns of the commercial and residential
inhabitants of this town, and there concerns are different," the
chief said. "The atmosphere of this town has changed, Main Street's
character has changed since I have come here. We are a small town
with big problems because of Route 22 and 78 outside our do ors. I
just hope that I can continue to do my job, hope that the council
understands the need for some part-time help.

"This is not a one-man job that I am doing, but I am going to
continue to do it to the best of my ability," Suto said. "I love
this town, and I want what's best for it and for me."

At the Town Council meeting, to be held today, Wednesday, July
18, Suto hopes that he finds more answers.

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